Health Archives

Hawaii County Council urges changes to midwives law

None — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Big Island midwives and the Hawaii County Council are urging the state to remove a requirement that midwives must have a license in order to practice.

New weight-loss treatment becomes first FDA-approved drug for sleep apnea

Reuters — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 23:40:00 +0000

The Food and Drug Administration today approved Eli Lilly’s weight-loss treatment, Zepbound, for obstructive sleep apnea, making it the first drug greenlighted to directly treat patients with the common sleeping disorder.

U.S. sues CVS over alleged illegal opioid prescriptions

Reuters — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0000

The U.S. Department of Justice announced a lawsuit today accusing pharmacy chain CVS of filling illegal opioid prescriptions and billing federal health insurance programs, contributing to a nationwide epidemic of opioid addiction and overdose.

U.S. suffers 1st severe human case of bird flu; California declares emergency

Reuters — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 20:38:00 +0000

The U.S. reported its first severe human case of bird flu today in a Louisiana resident who is hospitalized in critical condition after suspected contact with an infected backyard flock.

State calls for pause on interisland movement of birds due to avian flu

Nina Wu — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

State agencies have called for a voluntary pause on the interisland movement of birds in Hawaii for 90 days following the discovery of the H5N1 bird flu in the state.

Hawaii reports first child flu death of season

Star-Advertiser Staff — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 23:25:00 +0000

The state Department of Health announced the first flu-related death of a Hawaii resident under the age of 18 during this flu season.

Kennedy lawyer calls for FDA to revoke polio vaccine approval

New York Times — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 18:10:00 +0000

The lawyer helping Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pick federal health officials for the incoming Trump administration has petitioned the government to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine, which for decades has protected millions of people from a virus that can cause paralysis or death.

Trump to discuss ending childhood vaccination programs with RFK Jr.

Reuters — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 21:30:00 +0000

President-elect Donald Trump in an interview published today said he will be talking to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his nominee to run the Department of Health and Human Services, about ending childhood vaccination programs.

State reports H5 avian flu detected in Hilo wastewater

Nina Wu — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 03:08:00 +0000

The Hawaii Department of Health today said the H5 avian influenza virus has been detected in a wastewater sample collected from the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant on Hawaii island.

Health Department approves Oahu’s 10th medical cannabis dispensary

Star-Advertiser Staff — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 03:00:00 +0000

The Hawaii Department of Health has approved the opening of another retail medical cannabis dispensary in the state — Cure Oahu in Kailua.

U.S. milk supply to be tested for bird flu virus

New York Times — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 20:31:00 +0000

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin testing the nation’s milk supply for the bird flu virus known as H5N1, nearly a year after the virus began circulating through dairy cattle, the department announced today.

Hawaii reports 15th travel-related dengue case this year

Nina Wu — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 20:35:00 +0000

The Hawaii Department of Health today confirmed another travel-related dengue case on Oahu, bringing the total number in the state to 15 so far.

Pearl Harbor ducks also test positive for H5N1

Nina Wu — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 03:45:00 +0000

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture today confirmed that another backyard flock of birds infected with avian influenza was discovered in the Pearl Harbor area.

Wild duck with H5N1 was tested at refuge in Kahuku

Nina Wu — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 02:59:00 +0000

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has confirmed that the wild duck that tested positive for avian influenza last month was located at James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge in Kahuku.

Hawaii included in cucumber recall due to salmonella outbreak

New York Times — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

At least 68 people, including 18 who needed to be treated at hospitals, have fallen ill across 19 states, including Hawaii, in a salmonella outbreak that might be linked to cucumbers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

Experts warn Trump’s health picks lack pandemic experience

New York Times — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 16:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> President-elect Donald Trump had already succeeded in rattling the nation’s public health and biomedical establishment by the time he announced Tuesday that he had picked Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to run the National Institutes of Health. But amid growing fears of a deadly bird flu pandemic, perhaps no one was more rattled than experts in infectious disease.

WHO calls for stronger surveillance of bird flu among animals

Reuters — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 21:39:00 +0000

GENEVA >> A World Health Organization official on Thursday called for stronger surveillance in animals for evidence of infection with H5N1 bird flu in order to curb its spread.

Maui Council resolution supports health workers in labor fight

Nina Wu — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Maui County Council has passed a resolution urging Maui Health to negotiate in good faith with its workers to secure a fair contract to improve wages and establish safe staffing.

Biden floats more Medicare, Medicaid coverage of obesity drugs

Reuters — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 17:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON >> President Joe Biden today proposed expanding coverage of anti-obesity drugs, like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, for more than 7 million people with Medicare and Medicaid health coverage, which could cut out-of-pocket expenses for some by as much as 95%.

Hawaii County considers plan to expand hospital zoning

None — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 10:04:00 +0000

To improve health care access across the Big Island, the Hawaii County Planning Department hopes to expand where hospitals and other medical facilities are allowed to be built.

Top FDA official sees more vaccine scrutiny in Trump’s presidency

Reuters — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 16:00:00 +0000

The Food and Drug Administration is likely to come under tighter scrutiny over vaccine development and safety testing once Donald Trump takes over as the country’s president, a top official at the agency said on Thursday.

DOH: No humans tested positive for H5N1 from infected flock

Nina Wu — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 03:54:00 +0000

The Hawaii Department of Health says so far, no one has tested positive for avian influenza after the first detection of H5N1 in a flock of ducks and geese last week.

Hawaii Health Department alerts residents of recalled carrots

Nina Wu — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 03:46:00 +0000

The Hawaii Department of Health is alerting residents of a recall involving multiple brand names of organic carrots sold in the state due to potential E. coli contamination.

Benioff donation to help fund new Hawaii island health center

None — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Hilo Benioff Medical Center plans to build an outpatient clinic on about 9 acres in Keaau.

CDC: Carrots linked to one U.S. death, 39 cases of illness

Reuters — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 23:47:00 +0000

One person has died and at least 39 others made ill by E. coli infections linked to fresh carrots sold by several large grocery retailers in 18 states, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Sunday.

Avian influenza confirmed in birds on Central Oahu property

Star-Advertiser Staff — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 04:43:00 +0000

State officials said today that avian influenza was detected in a backyard flock of various birds in Central Oahu, the first confirmed detection of the virus in Hawaii.

Hawaii officials investigate source of bird flu detected in Oahu wastewater

Nina Wu — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 16:57:00 +0000

State health officials are investigating possible sources of the H5 avian influenza virus detected for the first time in a wastewater sample from Oahu.

DOH: Woman impersonated health inspector at Kahala supermarket

Star-Advertiser Staff — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 21:00:00 +0000

The Hawaii Department of Health is reminding food establishments of its protocols after a woman impersonating a health inspector apparently visited Whole Foods Market in Kahala last week.

Sexually transmitted infection rates slow, CDC reports

Reuters — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 16:00:00 +0000

The number of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the United States in 2023 was down nearly 2% from the year before, a sign the epidemic could be slowing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday.

Hawaii health officials detect bird flu in wastewater for first time

Star-Advertiser Staff — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 07:43:00 +0000

State health officials said Tuesday night that they have detected H5 avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, in wastewater test samples on Oahu.

Signs you’re sleep deprived and what to do about it

New York Times — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:00:00 +0000

We recently changed the clocks again, and getting out of bed may feel harder than usual: Research has shown the sudden shift can be disruptive to sleep.

An Idaho health department is barred from offering COVID shots

New York Times — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

An Idaho health department is no longer offering COVID-19 shots after its board voted last month to restrict the department from doing so, an unusual step driven largely by misinformation about the side effects and safety of the shots.

Infections linked to McDonald’s E. coli outbreak rise to 90

Reuters — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 21:00:00 +0000

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said today that the number of infected people from the E.coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers has increased to 90 from 75.

H5N1 bird flu found in U.S. swine for first time

Reuters — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 17:30:00 +0000

CHICAGO >> H5N1 bird flu was detected in a pig in a backyard farm in Oregon, the first detection of the virus in swine in the country, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said today.

McDonald’s rules out beef patties as source of E. coli outbreak

Reuters — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 12:55:00 +0000

McDonald’s on Sunday ruled out beef patties as a source of the E. coli outbreak linked to Quarter Pounder hamburgers, which has killed at least one person and sickened nearly 75 others.

E. coli infections tied to McDonald’s rise to 75; no known cases in Hawaii

Reuters — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 18:00:00 +0000

The number of people infected by the E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers increased to 75 from 49, U.S. Food & Drug Administration officials said today.

Fast-food chains hold the onions after McDonald’s E. coli outbreak

Reuters — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 23:30:00 +0000

LONGMONT, Colorado >> U.S. fast-food chains were pulling fresh onions out of their menu items today after the vegetable was named as the likely source of an E. coli outbreak at McDonald’s restaurants that has sickened 49 people and killed one.

Hawaii reports 13th travel-related case of dengue this year

Nina Wu — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 23:26:00 +0000

The Hawaii Department of Health today confirmed another travel-related dengue case on Oahu, bringing the total number in the state to 13 so far this year.

McDonald’s vows safety fixes as E. coli outbreak hits stock

Reuters — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 18:45:00 +0000

McDonald’s shares were on track for their worst day since March 2020 today, as the fast-food giant scrambles to limit the damage from an E. coli outbreak linked to Quarter Pounder burgers in several states that has killed one person and sickened nearly 50 others.

Hawaii Health Department warns of waffle products recall

Star-Advertiser Staff — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:38:00 +0000

TreeHouse Foods Inc. has voluntarily recalled multiple brand names of frozen waffles due to potential listeria contamination.